Disclaimer: the posting of stories, commentaries, reports, documents and links (embedded or otherwise) on this site does not in any way, shape or form, implied or otherwise, necessarily express or suggest endorsement or support of any of such posted material or parts therein.

Have to agree with your comments about the media handling from the West. All those poor people with a Thames Estuary command of English (educated at Universities in England one might suspect) and so many placards written in English. The spectacle is definitely being managed - but I'm not sure by who exactly. The Poll Tax Riots in the UK in the 80s/90s should by rights have been the voice of the scruffy, chain-smoking prolateriat but there's little doubting that it was the brainchild of the middle class left. I am sure Egypt has its own fair share of militants capable of producing what looks like a grass-roots uprising - which probably explains why social networking sites have played such a central part. How many of Egypt's poor have access to the internet - nevermind these tools. It's inevitable the Western Media will portray it this way also - given the sheer volume of social democrats and liberals commanding the newsrooms.

I think it is hugely patronising to charge the West with creating the spectacle and manipulating the media as there are many people in Egypt who are just as (if not more capable) of bringing this off. The media in the West are fairly easy to manipulate.

I think Britain has yet to decide whether to interfere or not. I think it is waiting to see if people are prepared to back the likes of Mohamed ElBaradei before adding pressure. Better the devil you know and all that.

Let's face it - Murabak is 82 years old. This was all going to kick off soon enough anyway. Someone just saw an opportunity to mount an early offensive, exploiting a (possibly) unexpected turn of events in Tunisia.